DSS, NS upset at election announcement

The DSS and New Serbia (NS) feel that the decision to call elections violates the coalition agreement. Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) official Milos Aligrudic today urged Parliamentary Speaker Oliver Dulic to rescind the decision, on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. DSS, NS upset at election announcement Taking the floor, Aligrudic pointed out that Dulic had failed to observe Constitutional Law, as not all the laws required for staging elections had yet come into force. The DSS official evoked one of the law’s article which stipulates that presidential elections can only be called once all the necessary laws linked to the elections have come into force, something which has not yet taken place. He explained that, according to the Constitution, the laws on the security services and foreign affairs did not come into force until eight days after their publication in the Official Serbian Gazette, while the Law on the Army would only become valid on January 1, 2008. As these conditions had not been met, Aligrudic said, Dulic had breached Constitutional Law when he called the ballot. Milos Aligrudic (FoNet, archive) Ilic: NS will demand reexamination of relations New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilic said last night that the DS’s decision to call elections was unexpected and that the relations within the ruling coalition would have to be reexamined over the following days. “We did not expect such an attitude from the DS. No one consulted us, and the decision on the issue was reached at an improper time, when the UN Security Council is supposed to reach a decision on Kosovo’s future,” Ilic told Tanjug. He said the DS’s decision was “wrong“, and added that the DSS and NS would demand an answer as to “whether they cared more for power or for the state itself.” Ilic said that party bodies would decide whether New Serbia would take part in the elections at all, since they had been called by only one party without consulting its coalition partners on the issue, and at a time when crucial state issues were waiting to be settled.

DSS, NS upset at election announcement

Taking the floor, Aligrudić pointed out that Dulić had failed to observe Constitutional Law, as not all the laws required for staging elections had yet come into force.

The DSS official evoked one of the law’s article which stipulates that presidential elections can only be called once all the necessary laws linked to the elections have come into force, something which has not yet taken place.

He explained that, according to the Constitution, the laws on the security services and foreign affairs did not come into force until eight days after their publication in the Official Serbian Gazette, while the Law on the Army would only become valid on January 1, 2008.

As these conditions had not been met, Aligrudić said, Dulić had breached Constitutional Law when he called the ballot.

Ilić: NS will demand reexamination of relations

New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilić said last night that the DS’s decision to call elections was unexpected and that the relations within the ruling coalition would have to be reexamined over the following days.

“We did not expect such an attitude from the DS. No one consulted us, and the decision on the issue was reached at an improper time, when the UN Security Council is supposed to reach a decision on Kosovo’s future,” Ilić told Tanjug.

He said the DS’s decision was “wrong“, and added that the DSS and NS would demand an answer as to “whether they cared more for power or for the state itself.”

Ilić said that party bodies would decide whether New Serbia would take part in the elections at all, since they had been called by only one party without consulting its coalition partners on the issue, and at a time when crucial state issues were waiting to be settled.